Governor Jindal Declares State of Emergency Due to Winter Weather

BATON ROUGE – Governor Bobby Jindal issued a proclamation today declaring a state of emergency as a result of the extreme cold weather conditions that threaten the lives and property of the citizens of the state.

On Wednesday evening, Governor Jindal issued a state of emergency related to the transportation and delivery of propane and heating fuel products due to extreme cold weather.

STATE OF EMERGENCY – WINTER WEATHER_____________________________________________________________________________

WHEREAS, the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, R.S. 29:721, et seq., confers upon the Governor of the State of Louisiana emergency powers to deal with emergencies and disasters, including those caused by fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural or manmade causes, in order to ensure that preparations of this state will be adequate to deal with such emergencies or disasters and to preserve the lives and property of the people of the State of Louisiana;

WHEREAS, when the Governor determines that a disaster or emergency has occurred, or the threat thereof is imminent, R.S. 29:724(B)(1) empowers the Governor to declare a state of emergency by executive order or proclamation, or both;

WHEREAS, the National Weather Service predicts that the dangerously frigid temperatures currently affecting the central and eastern United States will impact the southern states through the weekend, creating hazardous winter weather conditions throughout the State;

WHEREAS, the National Weather Service has issued winter weather advisories, freeze warnings and hard freeze warnings for parishes across the State for the next twenty-four hours making driving conditions hazardous;

WHEREAS, State offices have been closed in thirty-eight parishes and schools in thirty-seven parishes have been closed due to the hazards posed by this extreme winter weather, and these winter weather conditions threaten the lives and property of the citizens of the State of Louisiana;

NOW THEREFORE I, BOBBY JINDAL, Governor of the State of Louisiana, by virtue of theauthority vested by the Constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:

SECTION 1: Pursuant to the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, R.S. 29:721, et seq., a state of emergency is declared to exist in the State of Louisiana as a result of the extreme cold weather conditions that threaten the lives and property of the citizens of the State.

SECTION 2: The Director of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is hereby authorized to undertake any activity authorized by law which he deems necessary and appropriate in response to this declaration.

SECTION 3: All departments, commissions, boards, agencies and officers of the state, or any political subdivision thereof, are authorized and directed to cooperate in actions the State may take in response to the effects of this severe cold weather.

SECTION 4: This state of emergency extends from Friday, January 24, 2014 to Saturday, February 22, 2014, unless terminated sooner.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the City of Baton Rouge, on this 24th day of January, 2014.